Front Kick – swimming activities

Leg kick performed on the front.

Activities

• Animal Parade – Swimmers travel like different animals, trying out new ways of moving on the front and back.
• Barrel Roll – Hugging a float on the chest, swimmers roll from their back to their front and back again – the float supports both positions.
• Bubble Trails – Swimmers leave a continuous trail of bubbles behind them as they travel – breathing out while moving, not just standing still.
• Captain's Coming – A pool version of the ship game: each command is a skill – scrub the deck, man overboard, lie on deck – done as quickly as possible.
• Colour Corners – Each corner of the area has a colour and a way of travelling; swimmers race to the called corner using the right skill.
• Crocodile Chase – When the crocodile snaps, swimmers kick fast with their floats to escape to the wall – short bursts of fast, small kicks.
• Delivery Boats – Swimmers kick while pushing a float 'boat' carrying a toy, delivering it across the pool without it falling off.
• Float Kick Relay – Teams race a float across the width by kicking – every swimmer gets a turn to practise a continuous front kick.
• Glide, then Engine On – Swimmers glide first, then 'switch on the engine' with a kick when the glide slows – linking glide and kick without losing shape.
• Head-Up Crawl – Front crawl with the head up, eyes forward – builds a stronger kick and prepares for water polo, lifesaving and open-water sighting.
• Keep the Engine Running – A partner watches the swimmer's feet: the legs must keep kicking while the arms work – fixes kicks that stop when arms start.
• Kick and Breathe Sideways – Kicking with a float, swimmers turn the head to the side to breathe instead of lifting it – the first step to front crawl breathing.
• Kick Tempo Changes – Swimmers switch between slow, long kicks and fast, small kicks on the back and front – they feel the kick coming from the hip.
• Kick Train – Three or four swimmers hold one long noodle and kick together as a train – everyone has to kick to make it move.
• Magic Carpet – Swimmers lie on their front on a noodle or float 'carpet' and are towed around by a helper.
• Motorboats – Holding a float, swimmers 'drive' their motorboat by kicking and blowing bubbles.
• Noodle Horse Race – Swimmers 'ride' a noodle and gallop or kick forwards – a fun way to get feet off the floor.
• Puppy Paddle – A simple alternating paddle under the water that gives swimmers their first independent arm propulsion on the front.
• Push of War – Two swimmers hold opposite ends of one float and kick against each other – whoever kicks best pushes their partner back.
• Roll-Over Kick – Swimmers kick six on the front, roll to the back, kick six, and roll again – rotating without stopping.
• Rotation Relay – A team relay where every swimmer must roll from front to back at the halfway noodle – rotation under game pressure.
• Side Kick Surfing – Swimmers kick lying on their side with the lower arm stretched out – body balance and a kick that works in any position.
• Silent Kick Challenge – Kick as effectively as possible with as little splash as possible – fast, small kicks from the hip beat big, noisy ones.
• Sitting Splashes – Swimmers sit on the edge and kick with long legs – an early kick practice that also builds confidence with splashes.
• Streamlined Front Kick – Front crawl kick with arms locked in a streamline – builds a long, flat body and a kick that starts at the hip.
• Wall Kick Countdown – Holding the wall, swimmers kick with face in for a set count, linking a steady kick with blowing bubbles.